Newcastle face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Rafa Benitez seems helpless at Newcastle. Feeling sorry for himself due to a lack of funds, a takeover that is impacting performances on the pitch and seven defeats in the last eight, Benitez will be wondering what else he can do.
With a busy Christmas period still to play and more than a fortnight until the January transfer window where the former Liverpool boss may not even be able to bring in recruits, he must look within the depths of his squad.
The first place up for consideration is in between the sticks, following Karl Darlow’s horrendous error against Everton that saw the Toffees earn a 1-0 win over Newcastle.
Questions must be asked how pocket-sized dynamo Aaron Lennon won a header among the centre-backs, but even then, Darlow must hold the former England international’s header which was directed down the 27-year-old’s throat.
However, the former Nottingham Forest stopper spilled the ball at the feet of Wayne Rooney, the last player you want see in your peripheral vision after such a mistake, as the ex-England captain prodded home.
Ireland international Rob Elliot has hardly proved much better, being dropped for Darlow earlier this season and it should convince Benitez to chance his arm and give Freddie Woodman a go in goal.
The England Under-20 World Cup champion is yet to make his first-team appearance for Newcastle, but surely the 20-year-old can do no worse than Darlow, who the Daily Star claim is earning just £15,000 a week.
Yes, it is obvious that Newcastle need a goalkeeper in the January or even the summer, but right now, Woodman is just as good an option as Darlow and Elliot and he could turn out to be the saviour of the Toon’s fight for survival.
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